Welcome to this three-part series on belonging.

In part one, we'll discuss why belonging matters. In part two, belonging in childhood.

And in part three, belonging in adulthood.

Part One, Why Belonging Matters.

In this video, we will discuss how belonging is a basic human need. How non-belonging impacts our health and why belonging is important during every stage of life.

Have you ever felt like you didn't fit in? Like you were invisible in a room full of people? That feeling or the absence of it is called belonging. And it's not just emotional. Belonging is a human need just like food, water, or safety.

Psychologist Abraham Maslow, known for his hierarchy of needs, placed love and belonging right in the middle of his pyramid. Meaning, we can't truly thrive without feeling accepted and connected.

When we feel like we belong, we're more confident, more connected, and emotionally stronger. But what happens when there's a lack of belonging?

Researchers use the term non-belonging to describe both uncertainty about belonging and feelings of exclusion. According to the 2023 Belonging Barometer survey, more than half of Americans experience this disconnection in their workplace and in their communities.

And the effects aren't just social. Non-belonging has been linked to higher stress levels, poorer mental health, and even weakened immunity.

Belonging matters at every stage of life. Whether you're a child on the playground, an adult in the workforce, or someone seeking community later in life, wherever we are, we all need to feel accepted, included, and valued. Because people don't just want to fit in, they want to belong.